Handle-grip shock absorber



gepr. 28' 1926-.'

G. W. MATTERN HANDLE GRIP SHOCK ABSORBEK Filed March 29, 192iy W iliateinted Sept. 28, A1925..

httitt ATEN' FFEQE.

GEORGE w. MATTNRN, or DAYTON, OHIO, AssIeNR To THR CRAWFORD, MCCTRRGOR AND CANBY COMPANY, or DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

HANDLE-GRIP s'HoCx ABSORBRR.

Application filed March 29, 1926. Serial No. 98,218.

My' invention relates to golf clubs, and more particularly to clubs provided with metallic handle shafts.

l The purpose of the invention is to aord to such metallic handle shafts employed as substitutes for the customary wooden shafts, the 'peculiar characteristics, reaction and feel inherent inthe natural wood shafts.

Golf club shafts of tapered metallic tubing are at the present time more or less extensively used as substitutes for the natural Awood shafts heretofore formed from seasoned hickory. Such metallic tubular shafts possess certain desirable characteristics, being non-breakable, and being substantially unaffected by Climatic, temperature and humidity conditions. While such metallic tubular shafts possess a reasonable degree of flexibility or bending moment, they are to a very great degree if not entirely unresponsive to torsional strains. in, this, they differ very materially from the natural wooden shafts, which yield to a twisting or torsional movement at the moment of impact, thus tending to absorb the shock and also the re actionv gives to the ball an impetus, and action in Hight not attained by the usual steel shaft One of the most objectionable characteristics of the metallic shaft is that of transmitting to the players hands excessive vibration, by which reaction upon the nerves frequently causes numbness, or Vin the absence of numbness, effects a very disagreeable sensation. This tendency to conduct excessive'vibrations, together with the unresponsiveness of the metallic shaft to torsional strain subjects the players wrists to abnormal stresses or strains, which induces undue fatigue. It has beenfound that after extended periods of play with an unresponsive metallic shaft, the players wrist joints have been injured to such extent as to necessitate medical attention. Moreover. the rigidity of such metallic shaft, not only spoils the players stroke, but it induces an inharmonious action of the club as a whole, destroys the balance of the club, and eliminates 'the characteristic feel f which the skilled player has learned to expect and pref fers to experience, and which to a great extent determines the quality of his playing.

Experience has demonstrated that notwithstanding the inherent good features and desirable characteristics to be found in `a tubiilareaetalli golf elabshaft thatthe inf herent objectionable characteristics includmg the lack of responsiveness to torsional strain, and the transmission of excessive v1- brations and shock to the hands and wrists of the player, are bringing the all-metal shaft into disrepute.

In the present instance, the desirable characteristics of the tubular metallic golf club shaft are retained, and the undesirable features overcome, by longitudinally slitting the hand grip portion of the shaft to form a series of separate strips or fingers, and expanding such split portions of the shaft by inserting therein a tapered core of wood or other comparatively soft resilient material, about whichthe integral lingers or strips extend in spaced relation, such surrounding spaced fingers oi strips 'being interlocked or embedded within the inserted core. The shaft is thus rendered amply re sponsive to torsional strain, and capable of absorbing or dampening excessive vibration.

Vhile the preferred Construction is that of a tapered tubular metallic shaft, the grip portion of which is slit and expanded by the insertion of a softwood core of balsa wood, light pine, bass wood or the like, itI will be understood that the shaft may be of other material than metal, for instance, fiber or composition, and the tapered insert or core may likewise be of material other than wood as for example, a rubber insert or one of fabric.

In the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred,but obviously, not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a general view of a golf club in which the present invention has been embodied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the expanded portion of the golf shaft, showing the tapered insert therein. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the insert and the spaced fingers or strips disposed thereabout. Fig. et is a cross sectional view of the handle end of the shaft. y

Like parts are indicated by similar char acters of reference throughout the several views, l

In the accompanying drawings, 1 is the golf club head, 2 the handle shaft and 3 the hand grip portion. rF or purpose of il# lustration, a club of thel driver or'brassie type is shown. VIt is to be understood, how-v ever,that the invention is equally applicable to clubsof other t'yp'eslv The 'golf club head 1- fl (l l ot .voofl or metal according to the ehar:cte and purpose ot the club. The

handle shait Q is ot' tubular forni and preferablj.v tapered, although some players may prefer a straight cylindrical shaft. The larger end ot' the tapered handle shalt 2, ivhieh forms the hand (trip portion is lonnitnoiiiallv slitted at spaced intervals to forni a succession ot' longitudinally disposed parallel lingers or strips JL-l, vvhich are ree at their outer ends. but interconnected with the main bodv ol the shat't at their inner ends. lllhile the drawing shows the `tubular stem, as loirgitudinallY split to forni four of' such fingers or strips, a `greater or less number may be provided. Driven longitudinallv vrithin the split portion ot' the tapered shaft't is a tapered insert or core The lovrer or smaller end of this `insert or core substantiallv corresponds in diameter with the interior bore of the tubular shaft bevond 4the limit oi.l the split portion, While the opposite or larger end of the tapered core o is ot somewhat greater diameter than the original interior diameter ot' the tubular shat't. rhe insert or core 5 is preferably of light, soft ivood, such as sott pine` balsa Wood, bass Wood or the like. However, other materials .mayY be used, such as rubb r or composition` or in lieu of a preformed insert or core, the split portions ot` the tubular -shaftt may ,be packed with suitable packingmaterial, such as cotton Waste or the like. The core or insert being ot greater diameter than ythe original vbore ot the tubular shaft. the .slit portion ot the shaft is expanded, thus sepan-atine' the lingers or strips into spaced relation about the insert' core which the;T enclose as a calvx.

Although not essential. it is preferred that the fingers or strips 4 -14 be en'ibedded in the periphery ot the core or insert 5, bv being compressed thereinto, therebyv forniingr an interlocking engagement ivith the fore or insert again, t relative rotarv movement. Such en'iiedinent is effected bv sul.- ieetinethis strip portion ot the handle sha'lit to rolling' action under pressure. Such einliednent is shoivn in Figi: rlie hand grip portion is then Wrapped with tape or vthe like to retain the lingers l in their spaced relation about the insert core 5, and the usual hand grip cover is applied, as shown y at Fig. l. rllhis Wrappingor cover of the hand grip portion is preferably' extended to enclose the tull 'len-,girth `one the slitted portion ot the sha.t. although it is to be understood that the .shaft may he slit to a point bevond the iliand ,Grin cover or padden portion. in case increased degree of resiliene,Iv or vieldi ect. to .torsional strain. Yis desired.

.will the .connosite handle l-shattthas i `fled l -ltatewvri gre-at signi'larity the/.in ierentcharacteristics ota natural Wood handle shaft, and be responsive to torsional strain or stress, and ivill absorb excessive vibrations, thus [notectintr the hands d wrist o'r the player, butit vvill also obviate Lscalage the elul) head to vhich a La'olit club tilted v-:ith the usual 'torni ot rigid metallic shalt subject. The resistance ot the usuil i ni of metallic shalt to torsional subjects the head to torsional strain and mani clubs are broken bv the neclr or hoscl being fractured or split, due to the unresponsiveness ot the shatt to the impact with the ball.

From the above description it ivill be apparent that there is thus provided a device olI the character described possessing; the particular -features o't advantage before enumerated as desirable. but which obviouslv is susceptible ot modification in its torni, proportions, detail construction and arrangement olf parts Without deliartingr icoin the principle involved or sacrificingy j of its ,anvantages l-.iihile in order to compl)v with the statute, the invention has been described in la nguage more or less specific to structural fein tures.` itto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shovfn, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred torni ot' several modes of puttingr the invention into eil'ect and the invention is, therefore. clainie in any ot its forms or in-f lificanions Within the legitimate and valid scope ot the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, l elaiin l. i tubular steel shaft for golf clubs, th(l handle grip portion ot which is longitudiiallv splitant spread to torni a series ol' spaced lingers, and a tapered insert driven into said split end ot the tubular sha lit about vvhich 4the spaced lingers entend.

2. golf club having' a tubular metallic shaft, the handle ,f rrip portion oli the shaft being` longitudinall)Y split into a pluralit)Y of elongated lingers. a core oi" ivood enclosed within the split portion ol the tubular metallic shaft, and an external handle grip Wrapping enclosing` vthe elongated lingers and enclosed ivooden core.

A golf club ha 'ing' a tubular metallic tt. the handle grip portion ol the shaft ng long'itndina'llj,Y split into a pluralit;v of elongated lingers. a core oilE resilient mate- 1 l enclosed Within the series oit resilient nger", and an enclosure means bindingr the linger-s lin close relationship ivith the core.

it vgolf club having a tubular metall-ic shut Y, the Vhand e portion of the shaft being longitudinal-lv split into a vplurality ot elongated lin-gers, a core of ,resilient material inserted Within the series oi"- lingers, and means for causingtlie `core to be gripped by said fingers.

5. A golf club havingl a tubular metallic shaft, the handle gripy portion of the shaft being longitudinally split into a plurality of elongated lingers, and a tapered core of greater diameter than the original internal diameter of the split portion of said tubular shaft driven therein and spreading said fingers outwardly, and a grip cover enclosing the spreadngers and the enclosed core.

6. A golf Club having a tubular metallic shaft, the handle grip portion of the shaft being longitudinally split into a plurality of elongated lingers, said elongated fingereV being flexed outwardly in radial directions to form an enlarged handle portion and a body of illing material inserted Within the series of lingers and maintaining the. fingers in their outwardly liexed positions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of March A. D. 1926.

GEORGE W. MATTERN. 

